Selangor fire brigade to check polling, counting centres from Monday

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) will conduct safety checks on all polling and counting centres in the state beginning Monday (March 19) in preparation for the coming 14th General Election.

Its director Azmi Othman said the checks were to ensure that all polling and counting centres in Selangor were free of fire hazards.

He said the checks will include the fire alarm systems, fire-fighting equipment and access for the fire brigade, and will identify the water sources which could be used if a fire breaks out.

"We will also train Election Commission (EC) staff at both centres how to use the fire extinguishers," he said, adding that checks at the polling centres will be conducted during the day while at the counting centres, they will be held at night, following the operating hours of these centres.

"Checks will also be conducted in hotels because we believe that these will be full of people, especially during the campaign period, and we hope that the hotel management in the state will give their fullest cooperation," he told reporters after attending the monthly Selangor JBPM gathering here today.

Azmi said the findings of the checks and recommendations will be included in a report which will be submitted to the EC for further action.

He said as a safety measure, on polling day Selangor JBPM will also place fire trucks and ambulances at the polling and counting centres which are far from fire stations.

He added that all 1,450 staff from 34 fire stations throughout Selangor were prepared to be on duty during the GE14.

This year, he said, the fire and rescue staff have been allowed postal votes, so there was no question of anyone taking leave to go back to their hometowns to vote. — Bernama